so to those with teenagers what did you find worse toddlers or teenagers?

[lovelysongbirdfliessouth]

i have a high energy toddler

Have read through thread again and I still feel reassured that i will find teens easier than toddlers. I think a lot depends on the type of person you are yourself and i am basically lay so i find the physically demanding toddler stage really hard. But i am quite resilient emotionally (have been through some HUGE emotional upheavals/rollercoasters in my life) so i am fervently hoping that i will be able to cope better with the emotionally demanding/draining times better than i am coping with the physically demanding times. Fingers crossed!

sorry, lazy

I have a 2.9 ds, a 12ds and a 15dd. They are my world, but would never recommend having toddlers and teens at the same time. Why? because the day is so long.....up at 5.30am with toddler and trying to get teens off to bed before midnight! It feels like you are on call 24/7 and the probs of teens can be so intense especially at 11pm at night when you just want to nod off! Toddlers are totally selfish little people (can you tell i'm having a bad day), fun, yes, but so hard in a physically demanding way. I actually left home last week (was fed up with everybody) toddler banging the door when i'm on the loo, teenagers not doing homework etc. But I only left for 1.5hours as I felt so cold in the car. Will plan my escape better next time .
I am really looking forward to empty nest syndrome.... just another 20years to go!

hi milky, yep, i am looking forward to empty nest syndrome too, and spend many a happy hour counting the years down on my fingers and toes! Only 16 years to go!

ditto mumblechum
My teenager is funny, charming and great company. I love it when he gets home from school and we have a chat about his stuff.
He helps with the smaller ones too which is great.
Also don't assume you will have a difficult moody teen.
The only gripe I have with mine is his poor communication about home times etc. But he works hard at his homework, helps out and is generally pretty cool.

I liked mine at the toddler stage but actually find other people toddlers really annoying . But never let them know of course

Teens, but then I do have 2 at the moment

I really really remember that trapped feeling of trying to entertain a grumpy toddler, trying to get round the supermarket, feeling like you have no life when you can't get babysitters/they are ill etc.

But what creeps up on you when they are teenagers is fear....fear of unsuitable friends, fear of drink/drugs, lifts home with drunk drivers and messing up at school...as my gran used to say...'little people, little problms, big people, big problems'

I have a toddler and teenagers, I would have to say teens are worse!

I found the toddler stage physically really wearing but easy in some ways in thatI suppose you are the ultimate authority (theoretically anyway )My eldest girl is now 13 and I love to see her becoming her own person but the bit I find really hard is trying to steer the middle path between building her self-esteem and still making her understand that there are rules. So yes, lots of stand offs but having said that, I love her company, she's great fun and lovely to just hang out and have chats with.

ohhh I think equal.. teen scream less high pitched.. buit you can't pick them up and remove them from the situation.

Toddlers seem to tantrum more often and are physically demanding.

Teen are emotionally demanding.. but I remember being a teen and so try and relate.

Teens will sulk where toddlers yell and repeat.

Toddlers swear less.. so you don't need to do the " not in my house" thing.

teens are more smelly .. toddlers are more sicky.